Gabriel Viardot 19th Century Carved Wooden Dragon Crescent Mirror

This rare and exceptionally detailed bevelled crescent moon mirror is an iconic example of the Japonisme movement, attributed to the renowned 19th-century Parisian cabinetmaker Gabriel Viardot (1830- 1906).

Viardot was celebrated for his "Asianism" a sophisticated fusion of Far Eastern motifs with European 19th-century tastes and his work remains a hallmark of high-end French decorative arts from the late 1800's. The defining feature of this piece is the hand-carved dragon, a signature element in Viardot's most sought-after designs. Dragon is depicted seemingly emerging from behind the crescent moon mirror. Its claws grasp the edges of the original bevelled mirror plate, creating a sense of three-dimensional movement.

The body of the Dragon is meticulously rendered, with individual carved scales that catch the light and feathery outcroppings along its spine. Its head is a masterpiece of sculpture, featuring a characteristically open mouth revealing human-like teeth, forked tongue, tufts of hair covering the sides of the face, and focused, piercing eyes. Gabriel Viardot (Attributed). Viardot received numerous accolades, including gold medals at the Paris World's Fairs in 1889 and 1900.

Mirror dates to the Late 19th Century (Circa 1880-1890). Typically crafted from solid walnut or sycamore, the wood is finished with a rich, dark patina that mimics the appearance of aged ironwood or bronze. In excellent antique condition, it seems that the tips of each of the horns have been lost over time. 

This is a table-top mirror and retains its original stand to the rear, and could easily be fitted with a hanging hook so it could become wall mounted.

Height 59 cm, Width 52 cm

When open on the stand the depth is 30 cm and leaning height 52 cm

Mirror Plate at widest points is 47 cm Height, 42 cm Width . The mirror plate bevel is 1 cm wide.

All our items are genuine antique/vintage pieces and therefore can have some signs of age related use or wear, this adds to the character and uniqueness of each of them.

We try to give accurate measurements wherever possible, however where items are unusual shapes please trust our approx dimensions to be as close as possible.